The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-07-03
The Germans In East Africa.

Many an African traveller has at the out
set Of his journey bitterly regretted the fool
hardy ambition that took him to negroland,
as he fioundered through the dreaded Makata
swamp or the steaming iungles little west
of Zanzibar. One refreshing prospect, how
ever, has inspired him with new ardor and
kept him moving. Family outlined against
the western horizon he has seen the massive
contour of the Usagara Mountains, a region
Of cool streams, Of revivifying breezes Of
peaceful tribes, and food In plenty. The
scenery among these great hills, some OF
them rvalling the loftiest OF our White
Mountains, reminded STANLEY OF the Ale
ghanies, and BURTON has compared this
picturesque region with the Ghauts Of India.
It is in this breathing spot Of equatorial
Africa, and on tho great plateau OF which
these mountains form the eastern bulwark,
that a remarkable work Ia now In progress.
Little has been heard Of the enterprise OF
the German East African Society, SO quietly
have they been engaged for three years
making treaties with native chiefs, building
stone stations, starting experimental farms.
and conducting their scientific inquiries. At
first the English press laughed at an enter
prise they called Quixotic. and when it's
steady growth induced a moro serious mood
they mildly denounced this usurpation OF
the shadowy rights Of ZanAibar's Sultan on
the mainland. A little wordy opposition
only served to stimulate the German prof.
ect. Last fail four English Nimrods, who
longed for the rich hunting grounds Of far
off Kiima- Marc. were compelled to formally
apply to the Germans for leave to follow the
bent OF their passion.
The German flag now floats over fourteen
white stations, and district twice as large
as Prussia to-day admits the sovereignty Of
Emperor WILLIAM; but the German pio-
neers have secured for their country still
further advantages. In the recent treaty
between Germany and England the immense
region between Victoria Nyanza and Kilima-
Marc on the north, and Nyassa and tho
Roouma River on the south. and from the
Indian Ocean west to Tanganyika Is des-
ignated as the Zone OF German interests
into which England agrees not to intrude.
This vastdomaln joins the Congo Independ-
ent State. and together they form wide
belt across the continent from sea to sea, In
which hundreds Of white men arc now striv-
ing with all their might to find what bene-
fits equatorial Africa may be made to COR
for upon the world.
These Germans have in view a broadly
conceived and clearly defined plan, whose
practicability 1t Is their first purpose to test
thoroughly. 1t Is their belief that large
plantations for the culture OF cotton, tobac-
CO, sugar, rice, and other products may be
developed on these uplands with the aid Of
native labor, and that when means Of COM
munication with the coast have been per-
fected large amount Of capital may find
profitable employment. All their stations are
scenes Of agricultural activity and training
schools for native workmen. About 800 acres
are In crops, practical farmers and gar
deners are experimenting with all the trop-
| ical and European grains vegetables, fruits,
and nuts, the stables are filed with cattle,
| goats, asses, and fowls and several hundreds
OF workmen, whose native systems OF irriga-
| ton and many herds and fields show that
| they are not wholly lacking in skill and in
dustry, are being trained In white methods
| OF manual labor. Thus the German East
African Society is striving to open new fields
| for home enterprise, to instruct and elevate
the natives, and 1t Is not without hope that
some portions Of its domain may prove to he
adapted to the needs OF German colonists.
Several weeks ago DIR. PETERS left Cor
many with a small party OF colonists for the
East African stations. The experiment will
be watched with interest, but there Is no rea-
son to believe the results will particularly
encourage white immigration. 1t is more
probable that comparatively few white peo-
pie are adapted to live many years in equa-
torial Africa. and that progress there must
be largely the result OF native development.
wisely fostered by the introduction OF good
government and the influence of commerce
and instruction.
Partly supported and managed by the
Government. the East African Society Is the
creature OF tho now colonial policy Of the
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